Donald Walter Radbruch

Don Radbruch, a citizen of Sagle, Idaho, for 20 years, a World War II Veteran, Championship Sprint Car Racer, Avid Historian, and Noted Author passed away on 01/01/2008X after a long illness. Born on April 14, 1924, in San Francisco, the first of two sons of the late Anne and Walter Radbruch. He was preceded in death by his brother Les, in 1980. He is survived by his wife Naida, step children, Thomas, Allison and Kevin Poore, his two nieces, Nancy Radbruch and Diane Potratz and their children. Don became ?hooked? on racing at a very early age, participating in Soap Box Derby Races and attending local races with his family. After serving for his country in WWII and graduating from San Francisco College, Don was able to really get into racing. In 1948 Don began his racing career in earnest, racing sprint cars, and by 1951 he had won the American Racing Association Championship. In 1954 Don switched his focus to the Midget Car races sponsored by the Bay Cities Racing Association and enjoyed that sport until 1967. Born to be a historian and author, Don began as a teen, writing articles for several different racing publications. Don?s professional career as a Soil Engineer kept him quite busy until he retired in the mid 1980?s. He was then able to concentrate on documenting racing history. His interest and writing skills produced three books on the early history of auto racing. These books, Roaring Roadsters, Roaring Roadsters II and Dirt Track Racing preserve the history of an important part of our American culture that otherwise would have been totally lost. Again, several racing publications continued to benefit from Don?s research, including his weekly column to National Speed Sport News. Don was able to actually enjoy racing once more when he became involved in the vintage midget/sprint car group, the Pacific Northwest based- Golden Wheels. Don?s interest and dedication to auto racing history continued until he took his final checkered flag. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made the National Sprint Car Museum Foundation for the development of an automobile racing history research library. You may contact the Foundation at 1-800-874-4488